Indicating device



Au 3, 1937. a. L. GILBERT 2,088,646

INDICATING DEVICE Filed March 28, 1955 INVENTOK (2m: L Gums/rt XZLAQJ, v I 1 i -'-//0 ATTORNEY-5.

Patented Aug. 3, 1937 PATENT OFFICE INDICATING DEVICE Clyde L. Gilbert,

Terre Haute, Ind.

Application March 28, 1935, Serial No. 13,490

Claims.

This invention relates to an indicating device.

The chief object of the invention is to construct an indicating device so that it may be readily and manually manipulated by a pencil, fork tine, paring knife or finger nail, to move one of the indicators from non-indicating to indicating position.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an indicating device of this general character,

0 which, by a single movement of a single member, will simultaneously return all of the indicators moved to indicating position, into the non-indicating position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character which can be economically constructed with a minimum number of parts, with a minimum amount of labor, and with minimum waste.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and other incidental features will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on broken line 22 of Fig. 1 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the device in extended relation.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken at right angles to Fig. 2 and illustrates one. of the indicating fingers or pointers in non-indicating position and another one in the indicating position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 on. a somewhat smaller scale and of a modified form of the invention.

In the drawing, I0 indicates a base and II a cover, the two being united by means of the scored connection I2. This is interrupted as at l3 to provide a tab portion I4 which is perforated as at I5, whereby the entire device when the cover is folded over the base, may be hung from a nail or other suitable support. The cover-see Fig. 1--on its two side marginal portions adjacent the elongated aperture is therein has printed thereon, preferably in alphabetical relation, a list of articles to be ordered from time to time from the grocer or butcher, et cetera.

Surrounding the aperture I6 is a border I! which has a contrasting legend forming, as. it were, representations of different compartments 18, which representations are of greater area than the ends of the indicators or pointers, so that when an indicator is positioned in exposed overlapping relation relative to the border, the end of the pointer is of contrasting outline, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. This border may be of printed character and may have article designating projecting portions as indicated at l9.

Preferably, the border legending is of dissimilar color to the body or general color and also preferably the indicating figure or pointer is of another contrasting color, so that when the pointer is tripped and passes through the aperture and overlies the cover in the compartment representation, the color contrast between the three elements last mentioned, visually increases the effectiveness of the desired indication. For example, the border may be in black, the body of the cover in yellow, cream or white and the pointer in red, green or blue.

Suitably secured to the. base is an indicator body portion 20 and projecting transversely thereof on opposite sides, are the several indicators or pointers 2|, each being spaced from the adjacent indicator and each terminating in a somewhat pointed end 22, which, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, is emphasized by the portions l8 of y.

the border.

The preferred form of the indicator in its entirety is as shown in Fig. 3, since this type of an arrangement permits a strip of flexible material, such as light celluloid, or the like, from the roll to be passed through a rotary die, the width of the roll being substantially the length of the indicator so that the rotary die will cut from the strips in succession without wastage of material, successive indicator units. also be noted that the base and cover may be formed from a single blank, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

To facilitate ready manipulation, preferably there is employed, although in certain instances the same may be omitted, a spacing means 23 which spaces the plane of the indicator from the plane of the base or back. Herein, one form of such spacing means includes an elongated strip It will 23 which is secured together with the indicator of the indicator is spaced from the plane of the base.

It is also to be observed-see Fig. 1--that the lower portion of the cover has an area available 6 for advertising purposes, all of which may be printed on the cover at the time the border and individual names of articles are printed thereon. It will also be noted that the spacing between pointers is of considerable length so that the pointers are relatively elongated and relatively flexible, and there is sufficient length of spacing for any pointer to be engaged by the finger nail and flipped from behind the cover to lie in front of the cover, as shown to the right in Fig. 4. l5 To return the indicators, all that is necessary is to move the cover or the base relative to the other and preferably by elevating the cover which simultaneously will permit each of the flipped pointers to flex and pass through the aperture l6 and lie in the normal plane 'of the remainder ofthe pointers and behind the cover when the cover is released.

It is not essential that the cover and the base be made integral. They may be made of two pieces and hingedly connected together by a tape hinge substantially coincident with the connection II in the preferred embodiment illustrated, or in place of the latter modification or the pre- T ,ferred form, the cover and the back may be made In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a modified form' of the invention somewhat of the general character herein beforesuggested and similar figures indicate similar parts. For example, H0 indicates the back and III the cover. The latter is apertured as at l I 6. The two separate members,

to wit, cover and back, are united together by the eyelet H2 which provides an opening H5 for support of the entire structure upon a' nail, tack, or the like.

The body portion I20 of the indicators having the indicators l2! thereon, terminating in the pointed ends I22 spaced apart, as illustrated more 7 clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, is suitably secured as by the stapling I24 to the back H5 and if desired,

there may be interposed therebetween the spacing member I23. In the simplest form, however, such spacing member is preferably omitted. This form of theinvention difiers from'that illustrated in Fig. 1 in that the back is provided with two elongated apertures I50 which are parallel and register, as it were, with portions of the pointers or indicators and aperture 6.. This device, it will be apparent, is capable of dual indication, to wit, the front of the device may be arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1 and operate accordingly. If the entire device is turned so that the back is exposed, the latter may have printed on it other data orv legend and in that event, the indicators I22 may be moved in' an opposite direction so that the free end or ends overlie the back and indicate merchandise to be purchased. In this way the device is a dual purpose indicator.

70, It is to be observed, however, that in so doing,

the indicators cannot be automatically and simultaneously returned by relative movement between the cover and the back. In other words, each indicator will have to be independently 'returned.

' 75 However, with reference to the indicators which separate and the two eyeleted together substanappended claims.

The invention claimed is: 1. An indicator device including a cover member having an aperture therein, said cover having a plurality of independent legendings thereon in juxtaposition to the aperture, a plurality of flexible relatively independent and elongated pointers normally positioned such that the free ends thereof lie behind the cover adjacent the aperture and manually movable into legend designating position by passing said free end through the aperture to overlie the cover, and a base member for supporting said pointers, one of said members being adapted for movement relative-to the other to automatically return each pointer from indicating to non-indicating position insaid relative movement.

2. An indicator device including a cover ,mem- .0

ber having an aperture therein, said cover having a plurality of independent legendings thereon in juxtaposition to the aperture, a plurality of flexible relatively independent and elongated pointers normally positioned such that the free ends thereof lie behind the cover adjacent the aperture and manually movable into legend designating position by passing said free end through the aperture tooverlie the cover, a base member for supporting said pointers, one of said members being adapted for movement relative to the'other to automatically return each pointer from indicating to non-indicating position insaid relative movement, and means spacing .said pointers from the plane of said base for the purpose set forth. s

3. An indicator device including a cover member having an aperture therein, said cover having a plurality of independent legendings there- I on in juxtaposition to the aperture, a plurality of flexible relatively independent and elongated pointers normally positioned suchthat the free ends thereof lie behind the cover adjacent the aperture and manually movable into legend designating position by passing said free end through the aperture to overlie the cover, and a base member for supporting'said pointersgone of said members being adapted-for movement pointer from indicating to non-indicating position in said relative movement, said pointers all having a common body portion secured" to the base.

7 relative to'the other to automatically return each 4. A device as defined by claim 3, character- 3 ized by the aperture exposed portion of the spaced pointers being of appreciable width'and length for finger engagement.

5'. An indicator device including a cover memberhaving an aperture therein, said cover hav-':-

ing a plurality of independent legendings thereon in juxtaposition to the aperture, a plurality. of flexible relatively independent and elongated pointers normally positioned such that the free aperture and manually movable into legend desends thereof lie behind the'cover adjacent the ignating position by passing said free end through the aperture to overlie the cover, a base member for supporting said pointers, one of said members being adapted for movement relative to the other to automatically return ,each pointer from indicating to non-indicating position in said relative movement, and means spacing said pointers from the plane of said base for the purpose set forth, said pointers all having a common body portion secured to the base, the apertured exposed portion of the spaced pointers being of appreciable width and length for finger engagement.

6. An indicator device including a cover member having an aperture therein, said cover having a plurality of independent legendings thereon in juxtaposition to the aperture, a plurality of flexible relatively independent and elongated pointers normally positioned such that the free ends thereof lie behind the cover adjacent the aperture and manually movable into legend designating position by passing said free end through the aperture to overlie the cover, and a base member for supporting said pointers, one of said members being adapted for movement relative to the other to automatically return each pointer from indicating to non-indicating position in said relative movement, said base and cover members being operatively connected together, such connection permitting the aforesaid relative movement.

'7. An indicator device including a cover member having an aperture therein, said cover having a plurality of independent legendings thereon in juxtaposition to the aperture, a plurality of flexible relatively independent and elongated pointers normally positioned such that the free ends thereof lie behind the cover adjacent the aperture and manually movable into legend designating position by passing said free end through the aperture to overlie the cover, and a base member for supporting said pointers, one of said members being adapted for movement relative to the other to automatically return each pointer from indicating to non-indicating position in said relative movement, said base and cover members being integral and having a hinge connection therebetvveen permitting such relative movement.

8. An indicator device including a cover member having an aperture therein, said cover having a plurality of independent legendings thereon in juxtaposition to the aperture, a plurality of flexible relatively independent and elongated pointers normally positioned such that the free ends thereof lie behind the cover adjacent the aperture and manually movable into legend designating position by passing said free end through the aperture to overlie the cover, a base member for supporting said pointers, one of said members being adapted for movement relative to the other to automatically return each pointer from indicating to non-indicating position in said relative movement, means spacing said pointers from the plane of said base for the purpose set forth, said pointers all having a common body portion, and means extending through said spacing means, body portion and base member for anchorage purposes.

9. An indicator device including a cover member having an aperture therein, said cover having a plurality of independent legendings thereon in juxtaposition to the aperture, a plurality of flexible relatively independent and elongated pointers normally positioned such that the free ends thereof lie behind the cover adjacent the aperture and manually movable into legend designating position by passing said free end through the aperture to overlie the cover, another member, one of said members being adapted for movement relative to the other for automatic return of each pointer to non-indicating position from indicating position upon the cover, said second member including an aperture registering with the cover member and permitting manual movement of the pointers into indicating position relative thereto by passing the free end of the pointer through the second mentioned aperture, and legending on the face of said second member opposite the pointers for designation by the pointers.

10. An indicator device including a cover member having an aperture therein, said cover having a plurality of independent legendings thereon in juxtaposition to the aperture, a plurality of flexible relatively independent and elongated pointers normally positioned such that the free ends thereof lie behind the cover adjacent the aperture and manually movable into legend designating position by passing said free end through the aperture to overlie the cover, another member, said second member including an aperture registering with the cover member and permitting manual movement of the pointers into indicating position relative thereto by passing the free end of the pointer through the second mentioned aperture, and other legending on the face of said second member opposite the pointers for designation by the pointers.

CLYDE L. GILBERT. 

